Shrouded in Blackness

by Karlsson, Norma Jeanne

  “I love you, Kieran. No matter what happens, know that I love you,” she says with no waver in her voice.

  “I love you, too. Come back to me. If you don’t, I’m comin’ for you.”

  She nods once and then leaves our room, our house and our world.

  It’s been four hours and no word from Quinn. I didn’t go to the meet. I sat in my house like a little bitch, letting my woman do the work. My parents, Ian, Connor and Owen are here waiting with me. I called Collin an hour after Quinn left and filled him in. He’s doing everything he can to watch out for her and the kids. He told me there are a few undercover cops within the O’Boyle Brothers that he would get word to. His hands are pretty tied beyond that.

  If something doesn’t happen soon I’m going to lose my fucking mind. I’ve paced, I’ve worked the heavy bag until I couldn’t move my arms, I’ve puked, I’ve tried to cry, I’ve screamed. Anything and everything I can think of, I’ve done.

  “Kieran!” Owen bellows from the kitchen. I leap to my feet and run to the back door. Collin and Hugh are striding up my path each with one of the kids in their arms.

  “Jack!” I yell, jumping off the stairs to meet my cousins in the yard. Jack heaves himself into my arms from Collin’s.

  “Daddy,” he whimpers, shaking and crying.

  “I’m so sorry, bud. I’m so sorry,” I apologize, rubbing his back, kissing his hair.

  I reach out with my hand and grab Ashling’s car seat from Hugh before stalking toward my house. My mother has tears streaming down her cheeks watching us from the deck where everyone is huddled together. I move past them into the house, not stopping until I get to the couch. I keep Jack in my lap while I pull Ash out of the car seat. She looks up at me and beams a smile that almost stops my heart. I crush both kids to my chest, just breathing in their sweet smells.

  When I finally compose myself, I ease the pressure off the kids’ backs, looking down at their beautiful faces.

  “I want my mommy,” Jack whispers, his big blue eyes rimmed in red, begging me to get him his mother.

  “I know, bud. I want Mommy, too.”

  “Go get her,” he demands with a furrowed brow.

  My mother slides onto the cushion next to us, brave face in place. Jack doesn’t need our tears right now.

  “Can I get a hug?” she coos at Jack.

  “Grandma,” he says shakily, climbing into her lap. My mother does the impossible and keeps herself from breaking into the sobs that are choked in her throat. My father leans over the back of the couch, kissing his wife’s cheek before resting a hand on Jack’s head. I had to break my parents’ hearts twice with this shit, once telling them about the kids being taken and again telling them the kids aren’t mine. They took it in stride, considering the situation. They love the kids like their own…nothing will change that.

  Ian, Connor and Owen take the other half of the sectional and I pass Ashling over to Ian who kisses her chubby cheeks before passing her off to the Doyle brothers.

  I stand up from the couch and head into the kitchen where my cousins are watching and waiting.

  “Thanks, guys,” I breathe out and ring them both around the neck, hugging them tightly.

  “One of our guys on the inside called us twenty minutes ago sayin’ he’d offered to make the drop for the kids. Thought it’d be better if we did it,” Hugh explains, his chocolate eyes boiling with rage.

  “Gave us some good intel too. Apparently since Quinn’s come back to life, there’s been dissension among the ranks of the O’Boyle Brothers. The old school members aren’t good with the rumors about Quinn’s parents. It seems they felt some loyalty to Patrick Quinlan and there are rumblings that they’re talkin’ retribution for what happened to him and his wife. The uncles are tryin’ to pull Quinn back into the fold to maintain control,” Collin explains, his chocolate eyes just as stormy as his brother’s.

  “Fuck,” I hiss under my breath, looking over my shoulder at my kids who are still being passed around by the people who love them. Jack’s sitting on Connor’s lap while Ash is in my father’s arms, smiling at him with her deep dimple puckering.

  “If you’re thinkin’ about goin’ in after her, we’re with you. No more keepin’ us outta the loop,” Hugh demands.

  “You’re cops. I can’t ask you to risk your careers for me. I appreciate it, more than you know.”

  “Fuck that, Kieran! We’re family before we’re anything. You do this, we’re there,” Collin snarls under his breath, mindful of my children only yards away.

  I relent and nod. If they want to help me, who am I to argue? They’re my blood and they’ll have my back no matter what.

  “I’ve gotta get the kids settled before we move. Any idea where they’ve got Quinn?”

  “I’ll find out and let you know,” Hugh says.

  Buzz, buzz.

  Shit!

  “Hey,” I answer softly.

  “Kieran Delaney,” Shannon barks. “You ever try to keep somethin’ like this from me again, I’ll beat your ass bloody!”

  “I guess you talked to Karl?” I say through a snort.

  “More like interrogated. I knew somethin’ was wrong. He tried his damnedest to cover for you, though. What’s goin’ on? Where’re the kids?”

  “Just got ’em back.”

  “Thank fuck. How’d you manage that?” she asks, relieved.

  “Quinn traded herself for the kids,” I admit sheepishly.

  “WHAT?!”

  “She’s who they really want. It’s a long fuckin’ story. I’m gonna get her, just figurin’ out the details with Collin and Hugh right now. Probably should get off here and round up the boys. Wish you were here, Shannon.”

  She’s silent for a long while.

  “I’ll be there in an hour and a half. Wait for me before you do anything!”

  And then she hangs up. Shit!

  “Uh, apparently your sister’s comin’ to Chicago,” I say, shocked, staring at my phone.

  “Fuck. It’s on now,” Collin says through a giant smile.

  Shannon Kelly’s coming to Chicago to work. This just got interesting.

  Quinn

  Just as I thought, my uncles let the kids go when I agreed to stay. I don’t know why they want me back, but it’s what they want. I was immediately separated from the kids after I made my deal. I kissed them both, told them I loved them and watched some lackey carry them out the door. It was easier this time because I know I’ll see them again. If I have to stab my way out of here day by day until they’re all dead, I will.

  Uncle Declan threatened to take the kids from me permanently if I leave so I have to play this smart. It could take months for me to get away, but I will get back to Kieran and my kids. My uncle can’t take them from me if he’s dead, so he’s at the top of my hit list. Unfortunately, I was divested of my weapons upon entering the pub where my uncles run their organization. So for the moment, I’m stuck.

  Every member of the O’Boyle Brothers seems to be here tonight. Old familiar faces keep coming by the table where I’m sitting, welcoming me home. I keep a broad, fake smile on my face and say thank you each time. Maybe I should go into acting because they all seem to be buying what I’m selling.

  I’m in a booth, smashed between my uncles and Sean Casey. When I agreed to come home Sean immediately smashed his lips against mine, causing the room to bloom with hoots and hollers of congratulations. I almost puked in his mouth. He now has his arm possessively slung around my shoulders and his other hand is creeping higher on my thigh by the minute.

  If I have to have sex with him, it’ll be torture. I don’t want another man touching me. Although, I can use the opportunity to smother him afterward while he sleeps, so there is an upside if it comes to that.

  The celebration of my return is curious to me. I’m trying to listen to the conversations nearby, but it’s too loud to gain any real information. I did hear one guy say he hopes me being back settles shit down for a while.

&nb
sp; “See how much your family missed you?” Declan murmurs in my ear.

  I cut my eyes to him, offering a menacing glare. He’s the reason the kids look like me. I have my mother’s eyes which Declan also shares. I should have figured it out sooner…the eyes, the Irish names, all of it pointing back to my family. I’ll be damned if he gets to raise my children. Now that I know they’re his, it makes them feel that much more like mine. They share my blood. They share my heart. I’ll do anything to get back to them.

  As the evening turns to night and the Guinness begins to flow like water, my nerves start to take over. I should have talked this through more with Kieran. I don’t know how I’m going to get through tonight much less however many nights I have to spend with Sean. He keeps whispering in my ear about us spending the night getting reacquainted, which is turning my stomach. I spent eight years fighting off scum like him and now I’m going to have to give myself to him willingly.

  As much as I’d like to see Kieran burst through the doors, guns blazing, I don’t want him to. If he dies, I don’t know how I’ll go on. I’ll have to raise the kids with Sean, and Jack will become a monster like him. Kieran may be a criminal, but he’s a good man and will raise Jack to be a good man. I need to stop thinking like this. Everything will be fine. I just need some time to get a plan in place and get my hands on my knife.

  “Think it’s time to call it a night,” Sean purrs in my ear before dragging me out of the booth by my arm.

  “I’m kinda disappointed, Darcy. I was hopin’ Delaney would show up here tryin’ to be your knight in shining armor. His head would look great on my wall. Guess you weren’t all that important to him after all,” Connall rasps through a sinister chuckle.

  “I’m sorry, Uncle Connall. Maybe you’ll see Kieran tomorrow,” I say sweetly, playing my part. He snorts at my fakeness.

  “Go easy on her, Sean. She needs to be able to walk tomorrow,” Declan instructs blankly. A shiver sneaks up my spine.

  “I’m sure she’s been worked in already,” Sean says, suggestively eyeing me with a question in his eyes. He wants to know if I’m still a virgin. I keep my gaze on my hands, letting him draw his own conclusions.

  After a few moments of silence, Sean drags me by my arm up the stairs at the back of the pub. They lead to apartments. Sean pushes me to the door at the end of the hall before unlocking it and forcing me through.

  It’s a studio apartment with a bed and a kitchenette. It doesn’t look like it’s been used recently for anything other than quick sex. The sheets are rumpled with stains marking the black comforter. I feel puke creeping up my throat as Sean nudges me toward it.

  “Sean, please,” I whimper. I’m losing the battle to stay strong. I don’t want this. I’d do anything for my kids, but I’m scared.

  “You’ll be sayin’ that all night, Darcy,” he purrs in my ear.

  He pushes me hard in the back when we get to the foot of the bed, sending me flying face first into the foul bed that reeks of sweat and bodily fluids. He covers my body with his, pinning me to the mattress, squishing the air from my lungs. His dick is hard, grinding into my thigh through his jeans. This is really going to happen.

  Sean lifts his body slightly off mine and I try to wiggle from beneath him.

  “If you fight, I’ll make sure it hurts,” he threatens.

  I go completely still at the evil tone in his voice. Sean’s not the kid I grew up with anymore. This life, working for my uncles, killed that boy long ago. The man lying on top of me is an enforcer for the O’Boyle Brothers and nothing more.

  Sean’s hand reaches beneath, me ripping my cargo pants open. He jams his hand into my underwear, roughly rubbing my folds. I’m drier than a desert, making the friction hurt. He forces a finger inside me and I wince at the pain.

  “Fuck, you’re tight,” he groans against the back of my neck.

  For some reason, I think about Connor and Owen in the moment. They would want me to fight. They taught me how to fight. I can do this. Or at least I can try.

  “Get this pussy wet for me,” Sean demands, getting frustrated with the drought between my legs.

  “Turn me over,” I whisper in the sexiest voice I can create. To my ear it sounds closer to holding back vomit, but it must work because he lifts off me to roll me over.

  I take the advantage, swinging my elbow back and catching him in the side of the head. I move from beneath him as he shakes off the stars he’s seeing. I run to the door only for Sean to grab a fistful of my hair, ripping me back across the room.

  “You’re so fuckin’ stupid! You think you can fight me? Fine, let’s fight,” he growls as he knees me in the face. My nose starts spilling blood as I try to scramble away from him.

  Sean drags me to my feet by my hair. He leans down into my face, ripping my head back, forcing me to look into his face.

  “You still wanna fight me?”

  I shake my head no. Connor and Owen taught me a lot, but I can’t fight Sean. He’ll end up killing me.

  “Get on your knees and show me how sorry you are,” he growls, leading me to the floor his fist still in my hair.

  I assume the position and brace myself for what’s to come when the apartment door slams open behind me.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Sean bellows.

  “Your worst fuckin’ nightmare,” a woman’s voice threatens in a tone that makes me nervous. “Let her up off the ground and I’ll let her kill you herself. Keep her there a second longer and I’m doin’ it my way.”

  Sean hesitates for a moment and I hear a gun cock. As the sound reverberates through the room, Sean’s hand releases my hair. I jump to my feet and back away from him, never taking my eyes off his face.

  “Quinn, I’m Shannon, Kieran’s cousin. You can turn around. He’s not goin’ anywhere,” she says confidently. I trust her based on the timbre of her voice and the look of rage and confusion on Sean’s.

  I turn around and am taken aback with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. She’s really tall with long auburn hair and stunning green eyes. She’s got two guns drawn and looks like she could take a nap she’s so calm. I’m in awe.

  “I brought you a present. Behind my back,” she indicates with her chin.

  I move behind her and spot a large hunting knife sheathed in the back of her jeans. I pull it out and take a breath. My hands are shaking, but I know I’m safe with Shannon here.

  “You wanna do this up here? Kieran’s waitin’ downstairs with your uncles if you’d like to make this a family affair.”

  “Let’s go down,” I say in a stronger voice than I thought I’d have.

  “You heard her. Move you fuckin’ ass. Don’t even think about grabbin’ that pussy piece you’ve got in your pants. I’ll blow your fuckin’ head off before you have the chance.”

  Sean keeps his hands raised in front of him and takes tentative steps toward us. When he gets within arm’s length, Shannon puts one of her guns in a holster before smashing her fist into his nose. I hear the bones crush, causing me to cringe and smile at the same time.

  Sean cradles his busted nose in his hands.

  “You fuckin’ bitch. You’ll pay for that,” he threatens.

  Shannon rolls her eyes, rips Sean’s gun from his pants, throws it across the room and puts her gun to his head.

  “Move!”

  She leads him out the door. As we exit, a gigantic man steps up from the wall he’s leaning against. He’s the size of a house. I stop and stare at him, not afraid…curious.

  “I’m Thomas, Shannon’s bodyguard,” his deep bass voice rumbles. I can’t imagine why Shannon needs a bodyguard based on the skills she has, but I nod and follow Shannon when she reaches back for my hand. I put my palm in hers, letting her guide me down the hall with her gun barrel smashed into the back of Sean’s head.

  “Your kids are okay,” she informs me in a kind voice. This woman is some kind of weird, sweet and scary at the same time.

  “Thank you,” I whisper.
<
br />   She squeezes my hand, offering me her comfort and strength. I’m sure Shannon intimidates pretty much anyone she comes in contact with, but I feel safe walking behind her. It’s the closest thing to having Kieran with me. I also feel safe because Thomas is looming behind me silently.

  When we get to the bottom of the stairs I stop, trying to get my brain to register what I’m seeing. Half of the O’Boyle Brothers are holding the other half at gun point on their knees. Connor and Owen are hovering above two men that I met tonight, high ranking men in the organization. Ian is ominously scowling at another man next to my uncles. Hugh and Collin are standing on either side of Kieran who has two guns drawn, one pointing at each of my uncles.

  I want to run and throw myself in his arms, but I stay beside Shannon as she leads us into the group. When we reach the back of my uncles, Shannon kicks Sean’s knees out from under him causing him to crash to the floor. Keeping her gun trained at his head she moves her and I around to his front, past my uncles, stopping in front of them as Thomas weaves around toward the door.

  “Now that we’re all here, it’s time to get down to business,” Kieran commands from behind me. His voice is gravelly and haunting, raising goosebumps on my skin.

  He takes a few steps, bringing his body in full contact with my back, his arms straight out around my sides, guns trained on my uncles.

  “I’m endin’ this tonight. This is your opportunity to do it yourself. You use that knife on anyone in this room you want,” Kieran whispers in my ear.

  I nod my understanding and stare down my uncles. I want to slit their throats. I want to watch the life seep from their eyes. I want them to pay for what they did to my parents. I can’t do it, though. I’m not Shannon. I’m not a killing machine. What I did to the Russian was for Jack—a mother’s vengeance. At this moment I just want to go home and hold my babies.

  “You don’t deserve my vengeance,” I tell my uncles in Irish.